Richard Hughes is prepared to wait for his chance at Portsmouth.

The combative midfielder is the club's second longest-serving player behind only Linvoy Primus and is now in his eighth season at Fratton Park. But he has managed just one start this term.

Hughes told The News: "I'm fit and available for selection. We've got a large squad at the moment so it's competitive to try to get into the team.

"This is my eighth season at the club and there have been times when I have been absolutely miles away from a place in the team, but within two days we picked up a few injuries and I was suddenly in the team at the weekend.

"So I would never give up on a starting position here."